Custom iOS and Android apps designed for manufacturers. From production tracking to inventory management and legacy system integration, we build scalable mobile solutions that improve efficiency on the factory floor and in the office.
Factory floors, warehouses, and production lines don't work like office environments. Your team moves constantly, works offline, handles heavy equipment, and can't wait for slow syncs or complex interfaces. A custom app built for manufacturing doesn't copy generic mobile patterns. It understands that a shop-floor worker needs one-handed operation, large touch targets, and instant feedback when they scan a part number or update a production status. Legacy ERP systems hold decades of critical data, but their interfaces weren't designed for mobile. A purpose-built app acts as a modern front door to that data, letting operators and supervisors work from anywhere on the plant without breaking your existing processes or training your team on new software.
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Why manufacturers need purpose-built mobile apps
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From discovery to production tracking: how we build for manufacturing
We don't start coding until we've watched your team work. Real observation beats assumptions. We map production workflows, identify bottlenecks, and understand which data matters most on the floor versus in the office. That insight shapes the app's structure: what gets synced, what gets cached, how errors are handled, and which integrations with your ERP, MES, or inventory system are non-negotiable. Once we agree on the design, we build for both iOS and Android in parallel. Cross-platform development cuts timeline and cost, and our approach ensures both platforms feel native and responsive. Testing happens on real devices in simulated plant conditions, not just in a lab. We stage the app, train a pilot group, gather feedback, and refine before full rollout.
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Integration with legacy systems and continuous support
Your ERP or production management system is the source of truth. A new mobile app has to feed data in and read data out reliably, often in real-time or near-real-time. We've integrated apps with SAP, Oracle, Infor, bespoke legacy systems, and everything in between. We handle API design, data consistency, error recovery, and offline resilience so that if a worker loses signal, the app queues updates and syncs when connection returns. After launch, the app needs active support: security patches, OS updates from Apple and Google, performance tuning, and feature requests from the production team. We offer managed support retainers that keep your app compliant, fast, and aligned with changes in your manufacturing process.
CASE STUDIES
How we've transformed enterprises, SMEs and startups
Founded in 2007 as a dedicated IT consultancy, Evolved Ideas has grown into a team of over 100 professionals, with a head office in Leicester and development hubs in Eastern Europe and Spain.
The team at Evolved Ideas work with us as extended team members, and very much as part of our team. They have just completed a major milestone in our development, going live with our new loan management platform, and we couldn't be happier.
Kate Kennedy
OUR EXPERTISE
What we build
Over 17 years building custom software and mobile applications, and leveraging AI and ML to build the software you'll need next.
UK manufacturers face acute pressure to improve production efficiency and inventory accuracy while managing ageing systems. Mobile apps built specifically for the factory environment bridge the gap between legacy ERP infrastructure and modern worker expectations. A custom app reduces data entry errors on the shop floor, cuts time spent manually reconciling records, and gives supervisors real-time visibility into production status from anywhere on site. Manufacturing companies in the Midlands and across the UK increasingly rely on field teams and distributed production, making native mobile access to production data and inventory systems a competitive necessity, not a nice-to-have.
Our process has guided startups, scaleups and enterprises from concept to reality, and continues after launch.
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Discovery
A free 30-minute consultation followed by a stakeholder workshop, where we listen to your challenges, validate assumptions and build an outside-in view of your situation.
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Plan & design
We scope the project, define milestones and deliverables, then research your market, wireframe the UX and prototype the UI so the direction is agreed before a line of code.
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Build
We assemble your dedicated team, establish reporting and work in iterative Scrum sprints, delivering a working MVP or proof of concept you can test with real users.
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Launch & support
We ship, sign off, and keep your product current through our support service or a permanent extended team as your business evolves.
Technology is more than just code — it's a tool for solving real business challenges. Whichever route fits your stage, the same team delivers it.
Bespoke Software
With your long-term goals in mind, we help you choose the technology you need and develop a tech roadmap based on industry trends, emerging tech and your business requirements.
We have years of experience building proof of concepts and MVPs. We will take you from testing viability to building an MVP to validate your hypotheses.
Tier 1 customer support, Tier 2 technical support and Tier 3 development support for applications and legacy software, delivered by our engineering teams.
If you need to build an IT team from zero or need staff augmentation, we can build the team you need — developers, designers, analysts and even fractional CTOs.
How do you handle offline functionality for a production tracking app?
Manufacturing floors often have spotty WiFi or no connectivity in certain areas. We design apps to work fully offline, caching critical data locally and queuing all updates (scans, status changes, etc.) until connection returns. When the device reconnects, the app syncs everything back to your ERP or inventory system automatically. We test this behavior extensively and build conflict resolution so that if multiple devices update the same record while offline, the system merges or logs conflicts for manual review.
Can you integrate a new app with our existing ERP system?
Yes. We've integrated apps with SAP, Oracle, Infor, and custom legacy systems. During discovery, we review your ERP's API documentation and security model, then design the integration to match your data architecture and business rules. We handle authentication, data validation, error handling, and logging so that the app and ERP stay in sync. We also build safeguards to prevent data corruption or invalid updates that could break manufacturing processes.
What's the timeline from concept to App Store and Play Store launch?
Timeline depends on scope, complexity, and integration requirements. A straightforward inventory app might take 4-6 months. A production tracking app with ERP integration and offline sync can take 6-9 months. We break the work into phases: discovery and design (2-4 weeks), prototype and feedback (2-3 weeks), full development (8-12 weeks), testing and hardening (3-4 weeks), and App Store submission and launch prep (2-3 weeks). We share timelines and milestones clearly upfront and flag risks early.
Do you support both iOS and Android, and why should we build both?
We build for both platforms in parallel. Most factory teams have a mix of devices, and forcing everyone onto one OS either excludes users or requires expensive device standardisation. Cross-platform development using modern frameworks like React Native or Flutter reduces overall cost and timeline compared to two separate native teams, while still delivering fast, native-feeling apps on each platform. We test both thoroughly on real devices to ensure performance and usability match Apple and Google standards.
What kind of ongoing support do you offer after the app launches?
We offer managed support retainers that include security patches, OS updates (when Apple or Google release new versions), performance monitoring, bug fixes, and access to our development team for feature requests. Support is important because manufacturing apps interact with critical business systems. A small bug or security gap can disrupt production. We monitor app health, respond quickly to crashes or data inconsistencies, and plan quarterly reviews to discuss new features or process improvements your team has discovered since launch.
How do you ensure data security for production and inventory information?
Manufacturing data is sensitive and often proprietary. We encrypt all data in transit (using industry-standard TLS) and at rest on the device. We implement role-based access control so that shop-floor workers see only the data they need. We enforce secure authentication (OAuth, token-based) between the app and your ERP. We also follow OWASP mobile security guidelines, conduct security testing before launch, and keep libraries and dependencies patched. For sensitive environments, we can add additional layers like certificate pinning or biometric authentication.
Book a free 30-minute discovery call with our team — we'll understand your objectives and advise how bespoke software, MVP development, or an extended team can help your business.
